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Dixon Machado: Elects free agency

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Machado decided to pursue the free agent market this offseason, Emily Waldon of The Athletic reports.

Machado was designated for assignment by the Tigers in early July and spent the remainder of the 2018 campaign at the Triple-A level with Toledo. In 67 games with Detroit, he hit .206 with an OPS of .553 and 21 RBI. He will look to latch on with another organization but doesn't have much value besides providing additional infield depth.

Machado cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo on Sunday.

Machado could have elected to decline the assignment, but will instead remain within the organization. After slashing a miserable .206/.263/.290 to begin the year, Machado will suit up for the Mud Hens for the first time since 2016, with hopes of getting his career back on track.

Machado failed to impress for the Tigers this season, hitting just .206/.263/.290 with one homer and one steal in 67 games. He hasn't done enough to suggest that he's likely to be a desirable asset on the waiver wire, so there's a good chance he clears waivers and ends up back in the Tigers' organization. Ronny Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A to take over Machado's utility role.

With Machado on the bench for the fifth time in seven games, it appears safe to say that he has surrendered the everyday role at second base to Niko Goodrum, who will pick up his fourth start in five contests. Machado opened the season on an impressive note with seven doubles in his first 11 games, but he has delivered just seven extra-base hits total in his subsequent 49 appearances. The stark downturn in power has limited Machado to a .546 OPS this season, a 75-point drop from his 2017 mark.

Machado is not in the lineup against Minnesota on Wednesday, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports.

Machado will spend the nightcap on the bench as Niko Goodrum is set to make another start at second base. Over his past ten games, Machado is hitting just .200/.250/.300 and isn't providing much offensively for the Tigers this season. Look for Goodrum to take more and more starts away from Machado unless the latter begins to go on a tear.